News

On Share the Light Sunday, January 15, 2012, the Orthodox Christian Network is encouraging parishes to announce that in 2012, OCN will be honoring its first ever hero. This person must be nominated by someone other than a family member and must have distinguished him or herself in Christian love and service to others. Any of our listeners around the world will be able to nominate candidates online during the year of 2012. The Board of Directors and staff of OCN will review and select 10 candidates to be put before our international listening audience, who will then choose the winner. The winner will be a special guest on Come Receive the Light and will receive a free cruise.

The Sanctum Retreat Centre of Caroline, Alberta, will host the ninth annual Orthodox Men's Retreat of St. John the Baptist, on April 20-22, 2012.

Guest speaker, Conciliar Press author and priest Fr. Lawrence Farley, will speak on the Divine Liturgy. Indicating the pan-Orthodox character of the event, the announcement reads, "With the Blessings and support of our Bishops, and the support of our parishes and parish clergy, Very Reverend Father Taras Krochak, and Reverend Father Timothy Charpko – St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Congregation, Reverend Father Ibrahim Chahoud - Antiochian Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, Reverend Father Obrad Filipovic – Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Simeon, Reverend Father Demetrios Rougas – St Demetrios Greek Orthodox Congregation, Reverend Father Phillip Erikson – St. Peter the Aleut OCA Congregation, and Very Reverend Father Michael Lupu - St. Mary’s Romanian Orthodox Congregation, the Orthodox retreat committee invite you to the ninth annual Orthodox Men’s Retreat of St. John the Baptist – 2012."

In addition to the liturgical worship and retreat lecture sessions, the retreat committee notes, there will be ample time for quite time meditation and prayer. The retreat property is set in serene surroundings, and hot tubs are available so retreat attendees are encouraged pack swimming trunks.

It is with extreme sadness that we inform you that our beloved brother in Christ, Father Harold Dunaway, Dean Emeritus of St. John Cathedral in Eagle River, Alaska, fell asleep in the Lord on Tuesday, January 3, 2012. His Eminence, Archbishop Joseph has asked the parishes to remember him in your prayers for the departed for the next 40 days and to hold a special Trisagion for his eternal life. May God receive him in His Heavenly Kingdom and may his memory be eternal.

The website sforthodoxinstitute.org announces, "The Sts. Cyril & Athanasius Institute for Orthodox Studies in San Francisco is a new institution in development for the furtherance of Orthodox study and life. And while we are aimed at providing resources and a context for national development (through national and international conferences, fora and publications, etc.), we are nonetheless also specially focused on fostering Orthodox education in western North America - a region currently under-served in this regard. From our base in this region to reach out to support the educational mission of the Church throughout the country through Regional Centers."

In keeping with the Institute's goals, the site adds, "The first regional symposium of the new Sts. Cyril & Athanasius Orthodox Institute will take place Friday-Saturday, 17th-18th February 2012, on a theme critical to both the study and experience of Orthodox Christian life: the symbolism and inner meaning of the Divine Liturgy." Titled Living Symbol: Exploring the Inner Meaning of the Orthodox Liturgy, the "three-part symposium will provide participants with a rich exposure to the dynamic meaning of the various actions, movements and events of the Church's chief liturgical celebration, drawn both from the explanations of the Fathers as well as the vibrant liturgical heritage of the local Orthodox Churches."

Among the speakers is Antiochian Archdiocese priest the Very Rev. Archpriest Josiah Trenham, who will address the topic, "The House of God: A Consecrated Temple & Consecrated People."

Since the devastating hurricanes in 2005, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) has provided over 600 volunteers and thousands of man-hours to help surviving families along the Gulf Coast rebuild their lives by constructing new homes or doing critical renovations to existing ones. Working in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, IOCC expanded its efforts last year by sending Orthodox Action Teams to build homes in Houston.

For 2012, IOCC will extend its humanitarian reach with more home construction and restoration projects set for Houston and for Minneapolis, which suffered a destructive tornado last summer. IOCC is currently recruiting volunteers for one week of active service in Houston or Minneapolis. You do not need to be skilled – just energetic! Activities vary depending on location and construction schedules, but can include siding, roofing, framing, landscaping, painting and support.

WALTERBORO: Katharina Louise Welge (Kathy Meyer) passed away Friday evening at Trident Medical Center in Charleston. She was 77 years old and a resident of the Village at Summerville.

Katharina was born in Butler, Illinois on November 24, 1934, and a daughter of the late William Welge Sr. and Annie Katherine Kunz Welge. A graduate of Rubicam Business College, she spent the early years of her adult life working in St. Louis, the Bahamas and San Francisco. Later, she became the Secretary for Metropolitan Philip, a position she held for over 42 years. Kathy was adored and loved by the Priests and the Church Hierarchy throughout North America and the Middle East.

She is survived by her sister Dorothy W. Kaiser and husband Eugene of Walterboro and by her brother John Vance Welge and wife Nancy of Layton, Utah. There are many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her siblings William Welge Jr. and Margaret May Landry.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 4, 2012, at 11:00 am at Parker Rhode Chapel in Walterboro, SC. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 7-8 p.m., with Trisagion prayers at 7:30 p.m., in the chapel of the funeral home. The burial will take place later in the week at Ware’s Grove Cemetery in Butler, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Antiochian Village, c/o the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese, 358 Mountain Road, POB 5238, Englewood, NJ 07631-5238. Condolences may be sent to her sister Dorothy (Mrs. Gene) KAISER at genemac@lowcountry.com. Online condolences may also be left for the family at www.parkerrhodenfuneralho.... The Parker-Rhoden Funeral Home, 117 Paul Street in Walterboro, SC is in charge of arrangements.

Effective January 1, 2012, Very Rev. Thomas Zain, Dean of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York is appointed as the Vicar General for the Archdiocese, and Very Rev. Timothy Ferguson is appointed as the Protosyngellos. We ask our Lord to greatly bless these two men as they assume their new offices and we have no doubt that both of these men will serve these offices with zeal and distinction.

The office of Vicar General was previously held by Very Rev. Elias Bitar, pastor of St. George Church in Little Falls, New Jersey. Fr. Elias has served in this capacity for 15 years, as has distinguished himself in his service to this office. We thank Fr. Elias for his exemplary service and ask the Almighty God to grant every blessing to him, Khourieh Joanne, and their family.

The office of Protosyngellos was previously held by Rt. Rev. Paul Doyle who resides in Torrance, California. This is a position of honor that is granted to a senior priest who has served with distinction, and who is called upon to use his communication skills on behalf of his brother clergy. Fr. Paul has certainly fulfilled these duties with much respect and admiration from his brother clergy, and we ask the Lord to bless him and grant him Many Years!

Upon receiving the information that Archbishop Jovan of Ochrid was arrested on December 12, 2011, while entering the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) from the border with Greece, the Hierarchs of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America reaffirm the position taken by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) in August 2005, and furthermore restate that the persecution and new imprisonment of Archbishop Jovan by FYROM are an outrage, and ask for his immediate release.

Antiochian.org has updated the Diocese pages and the Bishops' directory page in light of the Sunday, December 11 consecrations of Bishops John, Anthony and Nicholas, and the elevation of His Eminence Archbishop Joseph.

Up-to-date information for all the bishops of the Antiochian Archdiocese is available here. Biography pages and high resolution portraits for each of the new bishops are also available:

Entering its 11th year, OCF's Real Break continues to offer transformative, priest-led trips, both domestically and internationally. This year, trips have been organized throughout the months of February and March 2012 to the following locations: Constantinople, Romania, Guatemala, Toronto, Project Mexico, and Houston.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of college students in North America travel during their spring break for, oftentimes, empty experiences. OCF offers annual Real Break trips as spring break alternatives that provide life-changing and spiritually edifying opportunities to do "something real."

"Caring for orphaned infants in Guatemala, building homes for the homeless in Mexico and the hurricane devastated Gulf Coast, and restoring Churches in the Holy City of Constantinople -- it doesn't get more real than this. Students are provided an opportunity to encounter Christ and His love through serving those in need," said John Mahfouz, OCF Director of North American Programs.

Since its inception in 2001, more than 1,000 college students have taken advantage of the opportunity to spend their week long break serving others and growing in their Orthodox Christian faith.

Hair salon created with the help of IOCC fundsSyria (IOCC) — Nariman fled Iraq three years ago with her four sons after her husband was murdered and she no longer felt safe to remain in her homeland. Nariman and her family share the tragic reality of more than one million Iraqi refugees living in Syria. The huge influx of refugees into a country with a population of 22 million has put an enormous strain on Syria's ability to provide basic services such as access to education and health services. Jobs are scarce and Iraqi refugees must rely on savings. As their savings dry up these vulnerable families face poverty and more hardship. The need to be self-sufficient is critical to their survival.

Throughout Syria many creative, intelligent people like Wafa, a single mother with two boys, are also trapped in poverty because they lack access to capital. She used to do simple hairdressing from home with very few clients—mainly her friends and family, but longed to develop her hairstyling skills into a business.

The Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) Board of Directors held its fall meeting Dec. 1-2 at the new North American Office, headquartered at Hellenic College in Brookline, Massachusetts.

A major focus of the meeting was a proposed restructuring of the chaplain and student leadership structure of OCF. OCF's North American Chaplain, Fr. Michael Nasser explained,

"Recognizing a need for enhanced communication and support between the local chapters of OCF and the North American Office, we are developing a new tiered structure that will facilitate a more effective ministry to college students. The new vision utilizes students, clergy chaplains, lay coordinators, and college faculty on district and regional levels to implement OCF resources and programs, which in turn will strengthen the efforts of the local chapters."

Since 1998, IOCC has offered an internship program to undergraduates and recent college graduates interested in careers in international relief and development. In 2012 we are investigating the possibility of also placing a student or graduate from an advanced degree program. The IOCC Internship Program provides a unique opportunity to gain firsthand exposure to the operations of an Orthodox Christian international humanitarian aid and development organization.

IOCC internships typically require a 10 to 12 week full-time commitment during the months of May – September. There is also a possibility of a longer placement for a graduate from an advanced degree program. IOCC anticipates offering internship opportunities in, but not limited to, the following offices:

Jerusalem/West Bank

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

United States (Baltimore HQ and/or Minneapolis field office)

A detailed plan for each intern will be developed based on the educational objectives of the intern and the needs of each field office prior to placement. However, the typical responsibilities of an intern will include: participating in field visits to project beneficiaries; working with IOCC staff to continually enhance the effectiveness, impact and implementation progress of ongoing projects; assisting in the production of project reports, success stories and other written communications; and conducting research on various projects and new initiatives.

During the early summer of 2011, after finishing a mission trip to Albania with the OCMC, my classmate, Rondal Burkhard and I travelled to Thessaloniki to visit churches and holy sites before returning to America. In the spring, before leaving for Albania, I had asked and received a blessing from my bishop to visit Mount Athos. His consent was contingent on my receiving a visa. Providentially, I had met a priest at Hellenic College who was well-travelled to the Holy Mountain. He wrote a letter to the Abbot of Xenophontos Monastery on my behalf. Thus, through the Grace of God, my friend and I were granted visas for a pilgrimage to the Holy Mountain.

My friend and I were quite excited at the opportunity of visiting Mount Athos. I was looking forward to the trip because of the many inspiring stories I had heard from my Spiritual Father and from other priests in the Antiochian and Greek Archdioceses, as well as from my bishop, His Grace Alexander. Once we arrived, we were blessed by the opportunity to stay at St. Anne’s Skete. I was a guest at the house of the Theophilaion Brotherhood, under the care of Geronda Hieromonk Cheruvim (he is a Greek-American and a graduate of our Hellenic College, with a degree in theology from the Aristotelian University in Thessaloniki).

Scholarships are still available for the 2011 College Conferences. Interested students are urged to apply during the on-line registration process at events.ocf.net. Please note that the deadline for the early-bird discount rate is Dec 15, 2011. The conferences will be held during Christmas Break in the following three locations. Each will center on Orthodox Christian Fellowship's (OCF) theme - "Raise Me Above This World's Confusion."

It's fasting and gift-giving season. Sounds like the perfect time for a new Orthodox fasting & feasting cookbook! Now is the perfect time to order your new cookbook. It's not too late to give this as Christmas presents this year, but order soon!

Taste & See II: More American Orthodox Cooking is a sequel to the much loved Taste & See Cookbook published in 1999. With the help of 150 contributors at 63 parishes in 27 states across America, this ALL-NEW cookbook has been published by the Women of St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

The Taste & See Cookbooks have been created to help American cooks prepare meals that conform to traditional Orthodox fasting guidelines while appealing to an American palate. Preparing meals during the fast should be as simple and stress-free as possible to allow ourselves more time for prayer, almsgiving and attending the services.

The first Taste & See Cookbook was published in 1999 by the Women of St. Ignatius in Franklin, Tennessee, and touched countless lives.

This edition carries on with the tradition of the first one with 500 ALL-NEW RECIPES. The proceeds from this cookbo ok will go to the Antiochian Women's charity efforts and the St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church building fund (we're currently in rented facilities).

This book contains almost 50% MORE recipes than the first one. The first 85% of the cookbook contains fasting recipes, with the remaining book featuring Our Best Feasting Recipes.

The Very Reverend Father John Estephan, retired priest of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, completed his earthly journey on May 1, 2011, at the age of 92. He has left behind hundreds of families forever grateful to him for his strength, compassion, commitment and love.

He is survived by wife of 62 years, Khouria Soad, and their five children: Salam, Salwa, Sanaa, Soad, and Elias, and their families, including 14 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. He faithfully served St. George from 1962 to 2002, during which period he led our parish through two major renovations and the addition of a stunning, award-winning banquet and conference center.

As the leader of the oldest Orthodox church in West Michigan, Father John was always a forward thinker, encouraging women to read the epistle and serve as ushers at St. George. In addition to being our spiritual leader, Father John was a well-known leader in Grand Rapids, where he was often interviewed for news articles about our faith and the Middle East.

As an agency of the Assembly of Bishops, the Orthodox Christian Network (OCN) has been developing a thematic approach to issues which affect the lives of all Orthodox Christians. This month's theme is "Christmas and the Nativity;" last month was "Morality and Pop Culture," and the month before that, "Unemployment and Anxiety."

A new OCN video also posted on YouTube, "Say Merry Christmas," promotes the importance of keeping Christ in Christmas. Notes Fr. Chris Metropulos, Executive Director of OCN, "I have to confess to you that I have a great concern about this sacred holiday that we are about to celebrate. Well, why don't I just come out and tell you? I can't believe we have given in so easily to the hype connected with Christmas sales, which by the way the professionals tell us are up 7% from last year. I guess that is good news in an economy that has been sputtering along for some time. The problem I feel we are facing today is that we are so concerned about being politically correct that we are using terms such as Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. Everyone knows no matter what their religious persuasion, that this is the time when Christians worldwide celebrate the birth of their Savior."

COOK, Subdeacon David, to the holy diaconate by Bishop BASIL, on October 30, 2011, at St. George Church in Houston, Texas. Deacon David is assigned to St. Paul Church in Houston, Texas.

FULTON, Deacon Michael, to the holy priesthood by Bishop BASIL, on November 3, 2011, at St. Joseph Church in Houston, Texas. Father Michael is in his final year of studies at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Theological School in Brookline, Massachusetts.

TELSCHOW, Subdeacon Mark, to the holy diaconate by Bishop BASIL, on October 30, 2011, at St. George Church in Houston, Texas. Deacon Mark is assigned to Holy Cross Mission in Midland-Odessa, Texas.

ELEVATED

DAHDAL, Archpriest Nicholas, to the dignity of Economos by Metropolitan PHILIP, before the Archdiocese Convention, at St. George Church, Cicero, Illinois.

JACOBSON, Priest Peter, to the rank and dignity of Archpriest by Bishop ANTOUN, on February 27, 2011, at St. Basil the Great Church, Ocala, Florida.

HUNEYCUTT, Priest Joseph, to the rank and dignity of Archpriest by Bishop BASIL, on November 3, 2011, at St. Joseph Church, Houston, Texas.

KRUSE, Priest David, to the rank and dignity of Archpriest by Bishop JOSEPH, on November 5, 2011, at St. Raphael Mission, Thousand Palms, California.

ISSA, Priest Elias, to the rank and dignity of Archpriest by Bishop BASIL, on October 2, 2011, at the Church of St. Basil the Great, Kansas City, Kansas.

APPOINTED

SABA, Fr. Fouad, of St. George Orthodox Church, Cicero, Illinois, as Spiritual Advisor to North American Council (NAC) SOYO.

KINDER, Fr. Patrick, as Spiritual Advisor to the teens of the Diocese of Toledo.

(from left) Dean Archpriest John Behr, Alex Machaskee, Anne Mackoul, and Chancellor/CEO Archpriest Chad HatfieldAfter five years serving as Executive Chair of the St. Vladimir's Seminary Board of Trustees, Anne Glynn-Mackoul stepped down from the position at the annual meeting of the board, held on SVS' Crestwood, New York campus on November 16–18. Alex Machaskee, retired Publisher, President, and CEO of The Plain Dealer—Ohio’s largest newspaper—and current Chair of the board’s Communications Committee, was elected by his fellow board members to fill the position; the term for Executive Chair, according to the seminary Charter, is one year.

Mrs. Mackoul, an Antiochian Orthodox parishioner, was elected as the first ever Executive Chair of the board in 2006, at the same time Archpriests John Behr and Chad Hatfield were appointed to their respective positions as Dean and Chancellor/CEO of the seminary.

The Fellowship of Orthodox Christians United to Serve (FOCUS) Board, along with Executive Director Fr. Justin Mathewes, have announced a nationwide search for a new Executive Director, in order to "build upon a strong foundation and expand the ministry," its website explains.

Current Director Fr. Justin Mathewes writes, "I have been humbled and truly count it as one of the greatest responsiblities I have been given to serve as the founding Executive Director of FOCUS North America. As the Board of Directors and I have considered the next stage of growth, we have mutually agreed that in order to build upon a strong foundation different talents and skills are needed in the next phase....I am excited about the good work FOCUS has to do for the sake of the poor and pray that God will continue to bless those who do the Gospel work of loving God by loving our neighbor."

Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) has announced that eight spring break philanthrophy trips are planned for college students this spring. Notes their website, "The Real Break program provides alternatives to the “traditional” Spring Break for college students. It exists to provide students with the most authentic experience possible, and is modeled as a full Christian lifestyle, which includes fellowship, prayer within community, witness and service. Each Spring, over 100 students attend various trips, both domestic and international, to give of themselves to those less fortunate and to do something 'real' for themselves and for God. OCF Real Break has been running since 2000 with over one thousand students participating in these life-changing opportunities. Past and current trips include: Mexico, Guatemala, Jerusalem, Constantinople, Raphael House, St. Basil Academy, Greece, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Romania, Buenos Aires, Alaska, and more."

As we prepare for Thanksgiving and anticipate the Nativity of Christ this Advent, our hierarchs have designated this Sunday, November 20, as IOCC Sunday. Their blessing serves as a reminder of the importance of IOCC's pan-Orthodox mission to restore peoples' lives and dignity.

Please join with us by helping to mark IOCC Sunday – A Day of Sharing – this Sunday, November 20 by taking a special collection in your parish and sharing information about the humanitarian mission of this Orthodox Christian ministry. Information to share in your parishmay be downloaded here. Thank you for supporting the mission of IOCC that is helping to give people throughout the world new hope, new opportunities and new life.